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Penn State Hershey pediatrician recognized for inventions

January 15, 2014

Penn State Hershey pediatrician recognized for inventions

Dr. Charles Palmer, professor of pediatrics and chief of the Division of Newborn Medicine at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, was featured in the National Academy of Inventors 2013-14 Annual Brochure for his inventions advancing care for pre-term babies. Palmer specializes in neonatal respiratory problems and neonatal neurology.

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is a membership organization comprised of U.S. and international universities, and governmental and nonprofit research institutions, with more than 3,000 individual inventor members and fellows from more than 200 institutions.

The NAI recognizes and encourages inventors who have patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, encourages disclosure of intellectual property, educates and mentors innovative students and encourages the translation of inventions to members to benefit society.

Palmer’s research has led to several patents on devices designed to improve health outcomes for high-risk newborns. The Hug 'n’ SnugNeonatal Chest Splint is a noninvasive device that is applied to the chest of a newborn in respiratory distress. The device provides better stabilization of the chest allowing a baby to breathe easier. In November, Palmer traveled to India to assist a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) associated with JSS University Mysore to begin a clinical trial for the Hug 'n’ Snug Neonatal Chest Splint.

In addition, Palmer founded the Penn State Pediatric Innovation Program — a collaboration between the Children’s Hospital, the University and industry partners focused on improving the development of technologies for infants and children. The program provides a platform for clinicians, engineers and industry to exchange ideas on innovative technologies and rapidly translate them into products/services in the clinic.